Saturday, February 26, 2011

Take the Risk


Take the Risk  is a really nice compact read by Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center.  Carson uses the concept of “risk” in all its forms to illustrate why we should do it… often!  Carson’s life, as he describes it, underscores how important risk taking is.  Carson grew up in a single family household after his mother left his father, who was living a double life with two families in two cities.  Carson and his brother escape poverty and racism in Detroit and show how faith, education, and hard work can get you out of the “cellar.”   Carson shares the story of how he and a group of surgeons saved many lives that other doctors said couldn't be done.  He begins the book with the story of the conjoined Iranian twins Laleh and Ladan Bijani, who died during an operation to separate them that every doctor said it couldn’t be done, but Carson took the risk to attempt to separate them.  In this example it didn't turn out as he hoped unlike when he made medical history by being the first surgeon in the world to successfully separate twins (the Binder twins) conjoined at the back of the head (craniopagus twins).  

Carson has a deep faith and strongly suggests his patients and he pray deeply before the day of surgery so that God, as he describes it, is there to be intervening at every point in time.  His stories of his life is an inspiration for anyone wanting to meet their goal knowing hard work and no excuses along the way is the only way to make it happen.  For me, inspirational to see a doctor who mixes medicine and faith.  A really nice quick read.  Remember the benefit of acting, versus not doing anything… he is a guy who acts!  He is not a fan of the evolution guys, Dennett, etc.  

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